The Lord who rescued his devotees
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
फिरविलें देऊळ जगामाजी ख्याति । नामदेवा हातीं दुध प्याला ॥1॥
भरियेली हुंडी नरसी महत्याची । धनाजीजाटाचींसेतें पेरी ॥ध्रु.॥
मिराबाईसाटीं घेतों विष प्याला । दामाजीचा जाला पाढेवार ॥2॥
कबीराचे मागीं विणूं लागे सेले । उठविलें मूल कुंभाराचें ॥3॥
आतां तुह्मी दया करा पंढरिराया । तुका विनवी पायां नमीतसे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He turned the temple around, making Namdev famous throughout the world, and drank milk from Namdev's hands. He honored the promissory note of Narsi Mehta and sowed the fields of Dhanaji Jat. For Mirabai's sake He drank poison. He became Damaji's guarantor. He wove cloth for Kabir and revived the potter Gora's dead child. Now, O Lord of Pandhari, show us the same mercy. Tuka bows at Your feet in supplication.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He turned the temple around and made Namdev famous through the world; he drank the milk from Namdev's hand. He paid the promissory note for Narsi Mehta, and he sowed the fields of Dhanaji Jat. For Mirabai's sake he took the poison and drank it. He became Damaji's surety. He wove cloth at Kabir's loom and brought the potter's dead child back to life. Now show us the same mercy, Lord of Pandhari. Tuka begs, bowing at your feet.
What it means
Tukaram lists the famous rescues God performed for earlier saints and then asks plainly for the same. Each line names a debt God paid or a danger he turned aside: he honored Narsi Mehta's bond, drank the poison meant to kill Mirabai, stood surety for Damaji, wove cloth at Kabir's loom, revived the potter's child. The piling up of stories is an argument: a Lord with this record cannot refuse the one bowing now. Tukaram puts himself in that same line of helpless devotees and asks Panduranga to act in character once more.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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